Off the Ground Blog
How to do Business Research: The Basics
It can be daunting to begin business research for your start up idea. There is so much information out there, how do you know where to start and what to look for?
Guest Post: Legal Matters for Startups and Small Businesses
This blog posting is for two types of people: business people with a legal issue, and lawyers with a business issue. I’ll touch on each in order.
New models for financing: Slow money
One trend that you can expect to see growing in 2013 is Slow Money; an investment strategy inspired by the tenets of the Slow Food Movement and founded by Woody Tasch in 2009. Slow money claims to bring funds “back to earth” by encouraging small-scale investments in local farms and food producers.This is an exciting trend for small scale businesses in the agriculture sector as it has the potential to remove some significant financing barriers.
Hot Industry Trends
Starting a business is always risky, but being an entrepreneur also has the potential for great rewards. Keeping tabs on industry trends can help you strike while the iron is hot. Here are the 11 best business opportunities for this year published by Inc.com. We’ve given you the rundown of their list below, along with links to the SBA’s own industry accelerator guides. Check out the original article for even more information.
The newcomer’s introduction to starting a business in British Columbia
Starting a business can be a complicated process and is often different in different places. Newcomers or non-Canadians wishing to start a business in Canada have some extra considerations before getting started. In this blog post we will share some great resources and support services to help the entrepreneurial immigrant start a business in British Columbia.
The Evolving Workplace (Part 2 of 2): Is a Co-working Space Right for You?
Today workspace options are more flexible and varied than ever before. Of course, there is the traditional office and the virtual work environment, but now, for those of you who want a bit of both, there is the shared office or co-working space. Co-work or collaborative work spaces are on the rise. Let's take a look at what exactly a co-working space means and what the draws are for entrepreneurs. Then we'll explore where you can find co-work spaces in BC.
Going Green: Small Steps for Your Business
There are lots of actions you can take, for little or no cost, that can save your small business money and be good for the environment too! We’ll start off with some small and simple changes that you can think about implementing today.
Becoming a Better Business Leader
Whether you’re managing an office or starting your own business, good leadership is an essential ingredient of business success. But what makes a good leader? According to John Baker, president of the organizational and leadership development firm READY Thinking, “Leadership is accomplishing things that reach beyond solitary abilities by acting — and getting others to act — with a maturity that surpasses limited self-interest.”
Get Inspired
Happy New Year from everyone here at the SBA! The beginning of a new year is always a time of thoughtful reflection. It's also a time for setting goals. One of our new year's resolutions is to incorporate more inspiration and motivation into our lives. Below we've listed some of our favorite inspirational thoughts. Check out our new SBA Pinterest board for even more quotes to get you inspired for 2013.
Women in Entrepreneurship (Part 3 of 3): Changing Paradigm
As times change and resources are consumed at rapid rates, we begin to realize that growth cannot continue indefinitely and the way that we carry out our daily live is unsustainable. It’s a global problem, a problem that impacts many aspects of our lives (including energy, environment, health, politics, education, jobs and the economy) which will require new shape-changing perspectives to resolve. Women offer fresh perspectives and unique contributions that will benefit society as a whole.